Philadelphia, PA—This Christmas, Ditch the traditional gingerbread house and embrace a new holiday baking adventure with a Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree. This festive creation combines the irresistible allure of soft, cinnamon-swirled rolls with the charm of a Christmas tree, making it a delightful centerpiece for your holiday table or a heartwarming gift for loved ones.
Make-Ahead Magic
The beauty of this recipe lies in its make-ahead convenience. You have two options for preparing the dough in advance:
- Chill the Dough: Prepare and refrigerate the dough for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, shape the dough, let it rise, and bake as directed.
- Shape and Chill: After chilling the dough for 2 hours, shape it into rolls, cover with plastic wrap sprayed with nonstick spray, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. This allows you to have freshly baked cinnamon rolls ready in a flash.
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- Two envelopes of rapid-rise yeast
- One teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup + ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Two large eggs
For the Cinnamon Filling:
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- Two teaspoons of ground cinnamon
For the Vanilla Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk
- One teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
Decorations:
- Colored icing, sprinkles, candies (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine 1 ½ cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Heat milk, water, and ⅓ cup butter until warm (120°F to 130°F). Add to the dry ingredients and beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. Add eggs and ½ cup flour; beat for 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in the remaining flour to form a stiff dough. Grease the top, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
- Shape the Tree: Punch down the chilled dough and divide it in half. Roll out one half into a 16x10-inch rectangle. Melt the remaining butter and brush two tablespoons over the dough. Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon filling. Roll up tightly, pinch the seam to seal, and cut into 16 equal pieces. Arrange the rolls on a greased baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree: 5 rolls in the bottom row, 4 in the next, and so on, with one roll at the top. Repeat with the remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes.
- Bake and Decorate: Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, switching baking sheet positions halfway through. Let cool on wire racks. Drizzle with vanilla icing and decorate with colored icing, sprinkles, or candies as desired.
Cinnamon Filling: Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Vanilla Icing: Combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Stir until smooth.
Enjoy the Festive Flavor:
These cinnamon roll Christmas trees are visually delightful and incredibly delicious. The soft, fluffy rolls, filled with a sweet and spicy cinnamon swirl and topped with a luscious vanilla glaze, will surely be a hit with everyone. Whether you enjoy them for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, these festive treats will add a touch of magic to your holiday celebrations.